Nuneaton and Bedworth is the knife crime capital of North Warwickshire with almost half of all offences taking place in the borough.

On the day that a four-week long knife surrender campaign gets underway, it has been revealed that 42 per cent of all recorded knife crime in the north of Warwickshire in 2016/17 took place in Nuneaton and Bedworth. It makes the fact that there is knife surrender bin now in place at Nuneaton Police Station even more crucial.

Lessons have been learned this time around and the surrender bin will be in place at the Vicarage Street-based station for a month as part of the campaign, dubbed ‘Operation Sceptre’.

Chief Inspector Daf Goddard said: “The Nuneaton community has experienced the devastating impact of knife crime in recent years. It is important that the people of Nuneaton support our campaign and play their part in making the streets of Warwickshire safer.

Police are keen for as many weapons as possible to be handed over and it has been stressed that people surrendering knives at the station will not have to leave their names or any details. But, if police suspect a weapon has been used in a crime they will examine it for evidence.

Read More

Monday top stories

Speaking of the importance of the campaign, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “Knife crime has a devastating effect on people’s lives – both for victims, perpetrators, their families and the wider community. While thankfully knife crime is not commonplace in Warwickshire, it’s still important that we all work together to rid knives from our streets.

Read More

“There is no circumstance where carrying a knife as a weapon is acceptable and, while some people wrongly perceive that a knife offers them some kind of protection, in reality it only serves to make them more vulnerable while placing those around them at greater risk.

“Every knife surrendered is one less that can cause death, destruction and misery, so I am very supportive of this campaign. I hope anyone who owns a knife – young or old – will take this opportunity to surrender their weapon and dispose of it safely.”